ADAMS TWP — The Mars girls basketball team prides itself on playing staunch defense.

Hampton unwillingly became the latest example.

The Planets avenged their only section loss of the season by crushing the Talbots, 51-34 at Mars High Monday night.

Mars had dropped a 65-58 overtime decision Jan. 3 at Hampton.

"We looked at this as just another game," said Planets coach Dave Sylvester, denying his team had payback on its mind. "I didn't want to put any added pressure on the girls."

But Monday against the Talbots, who entered the game with an 8-2 mark in Section 1-AAA, Mars managed possibly its most impressive defensive effort yet.

The Planets benefited from 25 Hampton turnovers and didn't allow a field goal for 16 minutes of play, a span that began late in the second quarter and didn't end until Jodie Luther's two-point basket with just 2:18 remaining in the game.

The Talbots' ineptitude included 26 straight missed field goal attempts.

"We just didn't knock down the outside shots," said Hampton coach Mary Bukovac. "And we had so many empty possessions where we didn't even get a shot off.

"We had a lot of unforced errors," she added. "But you've also got to give credit to Mars because they pressed us more than in the first game."

Hampton (13-6, 8-3) opened the action with a 7-0 run in the 3:30.

"We came out using a trap at the beginning of the game," said Sylvester. "But (Hampton) was breaking it and getting some good looks, so we got out of it."

The Planets pulled to within 11-9 by the end of the period.

The Talbots' last taste of the lead came when they were up 14-12 with 5:30 left in the first half.

Mars then went on a 9-2 spurt to lead 21-16 at intermission.

While the Talbots were struggling to make shots in the third period, Mars' lead ballooned to 32-18 with 1:50 left in the quarter.

Freshman forward Lily Grenci, who led Mars with 14 points, scored seven of them in the third quarter.

Maggie Bulman added 12 points in the win and Julie Utz contributed 11.

It's the eighth straight win for the Planets (16-4, 10-1). The highest point total Mars has given up in a game in that span is a meager 41.

"The girls are playing tremendously," said Sylvester. "Offensively, they are so unselfish and have been moving the ball well.

"And we're playing good team defense," he added.

HAMPTON 34Christine Newby 0 2-2 2, Emma Reed 1 4-6 7, Alex DiBucci 0 2-2 2, Ashley Florijan 3 2-4 9, Molly Cody 1 1-2 4, Erin Szurszewski 1 0-0 2, Jodie Luther 2 4-9 8, Lindsay Wittmer 0 0-0 0, Laurel Hansen 0 0-0 0, Breanne Goodman 0 0-0 0. Totals: 8 15-25 34.

MARS 51Julie Utz 4 1-2 11, Maggie Bulman 6 0-2 12, Megan Gibson 1 1-2 3, Cara Hudac 0 2-2 2, Abby Marshall 2 0-0 5, Lily Grenci 5 4-5 14, Heather Carpenter 0 3-4 3, Justine Funk 0 1-2 1. Totals: 18 12-19 51.

3-point goals: Reed, Florijan, Cody; Utz 2, Marshall.

JV: Mars 40-38 (M-Ellen Kenitz 14 points)

Thursday: Mars @ North Catholic